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Background: Circadian rhythm impacts broad biological processes, including response to cancer treatment. Evidence conflicts on whether treatment time affects risk of radiotherapy side-effects, likely because of differing time analyses and target tissues. We previously showed interactive effects of time and genotypes of circadian genes on late toxicity after breast radiotherapy and aimed to validate those results in a multi-centre cohort. Methods: Clinical and genotype data from 1690 REQUITE breast cancer patients were used with erythema (acute; n=340) and breast atrophy (two years post-radiotherapy; n=514) as primary endpoints. Local datetimes per fraction were converted into solar times as predictors. Genetic chronotype markers were included in logistic regressions to identify primary endpoint predictors. Findings: Significant predictors for erythema included BMI, radiation dose and PER3 genotype (OR 1.27(95%CI 1.03-1.56); P < 0.03). Effect of treatment time effect on acute toxicity was inconclusive, with no interaction between time and genotype. For late toxicity (breast atrophy), predictors included BMI, radiation dose, surgery type, treatment time and SNPs in CLOCK (OR 0.62 (95%CI 0.4-0.9); P < 0.01), PER3 (OR 0.65 (95%CI 0.44-0.97); P < 0.04) and RASD1 (OR 0.56 (95%CI 0.35-0.89); P < 0.02). There was a statistically significant interaction between time and genotypes of circadian rhythm genes (CLOCK OR 1.13 (95%CI 1.03-1.23), P < 0.01; PER3 OR 1.1 (95%CI 1.01-1.2), P < 0.04; RASD1 OR 1.15 (95%CI 1.04-1.28), P < 0.008), with peak time for toxicity determined by genotype. Interpretation: Late atrophy can be mitigated by selecting optimal treatment time according to circadian genotypes (e.g. treat PER3 rs2087947C/C genotypes in mornings; T/T in afternoons). We predict triple-homozygous patients (14%) reduce chance of atrophy from 70% to 33% by treating in mornings as opposed to mid-afternoon. Future clinical trials could stratify patients tr

Larval fishes are a useful metric of marine ecosystem state and change, as well as species-specific patterns in phenology. The high level of taxonomic expertise required to identify larval fishes to species level, and the considerable effort required to collect samples, make these data very valuable. Here we collate 3178 samples of larval fish assemblages, from 12 research projects from 1983-present, from temperate and subtropical Australian pelagic waters. This forms a benchmark for the larval fish assemblage for the region, and includes recent monitoring of larval fishes at coastal oceanographic reference stations. Comparing larval fishes among projects can be problematic due to differences in taxonomic resolution, and identifying all taxa to species is challenging, so this study reports a standard taxonomic resolution (of 218 taxa) for this region to help guide future research. This larval fish database serves as a data repository for surveys of larval fish assemblages in the region, and can contribute to analysis of climate-driven changes in the location and timing of the spawning of marine fishes.

Larval fishes are a useful metric of marine ecosystem state and change, as well as species-specific patterns in phenology. The high level of taxonomic expertise required to identify larval fishes to species level, and the considerable effort required to collect samples, make these data very valuable. Here we collate 3178 samples of larval fish assemblages, from 12 research projects from 1983-present, from temperate and subtropical Australian pelagic waters. This forms a benchmark for the larval fish assemblage for the region, and includes recent monitoring of larval fishes at coastal oceanographic reference stations. Comparing larval fishes among projects can be problematic due to differences in taxonomic resolution, and identifying all taxa to species is challenging, so this study reports a standard taxonomic resolution (of 218 taxa) for this region to help guide future research. This larval fish database serves as a data repository for surveys of larval fish assemblages in the region, and can contribute to analysis of climate-driven changes in the location and timing of the spawning of marine fishes.

The optimal design and patient selection for interventional trials in radiogenomics seem trivial at first sight. However, radiogenomics do not give binary information like in e.g. targetable mutation biomarkers. Here, the risk to develop severe side effects is continuous, with increasing incidences of side effects with higher doses and/or volumes. In addition, a multiLSNP assay will produce a predicted probability of developing side effects and will require one or more cut-off thresholds for classifying risk into discrete categories. A classical biomarker trial design is therefore not optimal, whereas a risk factor stratification approach is more appropriate. Patient selection is crucial and this should be based on the dose-response relations for a specific endpoint. Alternatives to standard treatment should be available and this should take into account the preferences of patients. This will be discussed in detail.

The optimal design and patient selection for interventional trials in radiogenomics seem trivial at first sight. However, radiogenomics do not give binary information like in e.g. targetable mutation biomarkers. Here, the risk to develop severe side effects is continuous, with increasing incidences of side effects with higher doses and/or volumes. In addition, a multiLSNP assay will produce a predicted probability of developing side effects and will require one or more cut-off thresholds for classifying risk into discrete categories. A classical biomarker trial design is therefore not optimal, whereas a risk factor stratification approach is more appropriate. Patient selection is crucial and this should be based on the dose-response relations for a specific endpoint. Alternatives to standard treatment should be available and this should take into account the preferences of patients. This will be discussed in detail.

This research developed dimensionless correlations, based on the numerical simulations, for the boundaries between the dripping, transition and jetting regimes. Additional correlations are also developed for the radius and formation frequency of disperse droplet in the dripping regime and the transition regime, when the total volume of the satellite droplets is less than 1% of the disperse primary droplets.

Printable lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) cathodes and porous aerogel / polymer separators have been designed, constructed, and tested. The cathodes consist of LiFePO4, PVDF binder, and conductive carbon which was developed for robocast deposition (printing) onto carbon coated aluminum substrates to form 60 \uf06dm thick cathodes. Electrochemical and physical evaluation of these printed cathodes was performed to determine capacity, rate capability, and lifetime performance of the printed cathodes. Cells were constructed using a standard 2032 coin cell to ensure uniform electrode size and pressure on the layers of the battery. Cathodes printed exhibited up to 115 mAh/g capacity with a commercial separator and have 89% retention of capacity after 60 continuous charge / discharge cycles. The physical characteristics for the printed cathodes were evaluated using SEM and EDS techniques to determine the morphology of the cathodes as printed. Several polymers were evaluated to identify applicability for a printed separator. In order to allow for the resulting printed separator to remain porous, an aerogel material was added to the printing slurry before deposition. The materials were evaluated for rheological properties and printing results to identify an optimal material for a printable separator. The polypropylene/polyethylene material identified as a suitable printed separator was printed directly onto printed cathodes and electrochemical and physical evaluations were conducted on the resulting battery material to determine ability to cycle and rate capability. The printed cathode and separator exhibited up to 60 mAh/g capacity. An optimal ratio between the polymer binder and the aerogel porous component was established based upon testing in a 2032 coin cell using liquid electrolytes. The ratio of binder to aerogel which exhibited the highest electrochemical performance in a full cell was predicted to have the lowest performance. This unexpected relationship was explor

Stream restoration is a complex process encompassing multiple disciplines and organizations to achieve specific, immediate and long-term goals. Analyses of many completed projects are limited to narrow objectives that commonly exclude the same broad scopes envisioned during the planning process. This thesis studies one completed habitat restoration project in terms of its engineering and biological sustainability using geospatial analysis procedures not widely applied to these goals. These procedures include adjustment of a digital terrain model for hydraulic accuracy, the use of the digital terrain model and aerial imagery for the digitization of features used in hydraulic modeling, and the geospatial analyses of the resulting hydraulic model parameters of depth, velocity, and shear stress to map habitat preferences and discuss sustainability. Methods presented here have application to a broad range of habitat restoration projects, from project planning stages to post-completion monitoring. The Los Lunas Habitat Restoration site was began when a fire decimated the riparian vegetation in the area, opening the door to the site being overtaken by non-native and invasive species proliferating in the area. The goals of the project were to construct habitat preferential to the endangered species, the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) and the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), by restoring a natural inundation regime to the overbank area. This inundation regime provides spawning and rearing habitat for the minnow in addition to promoting native vegetation over non-native and invasive vegetation. To evaluate the success of the project, hydraulic modeling and geospatial analysis procedures are undertaken using the most current digital terrain model (collected using LiDAR), a readily available hydraulic modeling software package (HEC-RAS), and the frontrunner of geographic information systems (ArcMap). Features used in hydraulic modelin

Stream restoration is a complex process encompassing multiple disciplines and organizations to achieve specific, immediate and long-term goals. Analyses of many completed projects are limited to narrow objectives that commonly exclude the same broad scopes envisioned during the planning process. This thesis studies one completed habitat restoration project in terms of its engineering and biological sustainability using geospatial analysis procedures not widely applied to these goals. These procedures include adjustment of a digital terrain model for hydraulic accuracy, the use of the digital terrain model and aerial imagery for the digitization of features used in hydraulic modeling, and the geospatial analyses of the resulting hydraulic model parameters of depth, velocity, and shear stress to map habitat preferences and discuss sustainability. Methods presented here have application to a broad range of habitat restoration projects, from project planning stages to post-completion monitoring. The Los Lunas Habitat Restoration site was began when a fire decimated the riparian vegetation in the area, opening the door to the site being overtaken by non-native and invasive species proliferating in the area. The goals of the project were to construct habitat preferential to the endangered species, the Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus) and the Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), by restoring a natural inundation regime to the overbank area. This inundation regime provides spawning and rearing habitat for the minnow in addition to promoting native vegetation over non-native and invasive vegetation. To evaluate the success of the project, hydraulic modeling and geospatial analysis procedures are undertaken using the most current digital terrain model (collected using LiDAR), a readily available hydraulic modeling software package (HEC-RAS), and the frontrunner of geographic information systems (ArcMap). Features used in hydraulic modelin

Studies were performed on three different catalysts in order to determine their stability and sintering behavior. Pd deposited on a flat single crystal substrate made of Al2O3 was characterized to determine if the mechanism of Ostwald ripening was solely dominated by vapor phase transport of metal atoms. The atoms emitted could be determined by the rate of evaporation and an attempt was then made in order to relate the rates of emission to sintering (instability of nanoparticles). It was found that the rates of emission did not fully reflect vapor phase transport (direct evaporation). The particle-support interaction was increasing the rate of evaporation leading to the belief that adatom diffusion, caused by a weaker bound atom on the support, played a more significant role than vapor phase transport. A powder Pd/Al2O3 was also put under similar ageing conditions as the single crystal samples, but relating the two separate systems proved difficult. This was due to the containment of the metal on the support and changes of the powder support through ageing (loss in surface area). Support changes (decrease in the number of sites for particle nucleation) caused by the heat treatments seemed to also be influencing the sintering behavior. The powder samples were put through two different ageing studies, one with the presence of water vapor and the other without. The presence of water vapor enhanced the rate of sintering due to the interactions with the support and particles, possibly by changing the support morphology or making hydroxyl groups on the metal particle surface or both. A second catalyst was characterized to establish the affect support structure would have on the stability of nanoparticles. 10wt% of Pt and Re were deposited on two different carbon supports, Norit and Vulcan Carbon. Norit Carbon was imaged to be highly roughened and as a result had a large surface area (1000m2/g). The Vulcan Carbon was imaged to be more graphitic and contain two different ty

Novel platinum nanostructures were synthesized by templating the growth of platinum on treated polymer surfaces and within disk-like aqueous bicellar assemblies. The growth mechanisms of all structures were examined in detail. Platinum hollow nanospheres with uniform shell thickness were prepared by the seeded growth of platinum on the surface of latex beads with an adsorbed porphyrin photocatalyst followed by core removal. Templating bicelles of a high yield were synthesized for the first time and verified by electron microscopy. Dendritic platinum nanowheels were obtained as a result of confined growth within the bicellar interior. Sintering experiments revealed an unusual stability of the nanowheels prompting further examination of their catalytic properties. The nanowheels have similar catalytic performance to a commercial catalyst but provide an improvement in stability. These platinum nanostructures have advantages over bulk catalyst as a result of improved surface to volume ratios leading to reduced costs in catalytic applications.

Synthetic solid-state nanopores are being intensively investigated as single-molecule sensors for detection and characterization of DNA, RNA, and proteins. This field has been inspired by the exquisite selectivity and flux demonstrated by natural biological channels and the dream of emulating these behaviors in more robust synthetic materials that are more readily integrated into practical devices. To date, the guided etching of polymer films, focused ion beam sculpting, and electron-beam lithography and tuning of silicon nitride membranes have emerged as three promising approaches to define synthetic solid-state pores with sub-nanometer resolution. These procedures have in common the formation of nominally cylindrical or conical pores aligned normal to the membrane surface. Here we report the formation of kinked' silica nanopores, using evaporation induced self-assembly, and their further tuning and chemical derivatization using atomic layer deposition. Compared to 'straight-through' proteinaceous nanopores of comparable dimensions, kinked nanopores exhibit a factor of up to 5x reduction in translocation velocity, which has been identified as one of the critical issues in DNA sequencing. Additionally we demonstrate an efficient two-step approach to create a nanopore array exhibiting nearly perfect selectivity for ssDNA over dsDNA. We show that a coarse-grained drift-diffusion theory with a sawtooth like potential can reasonably describe the velocity and translocation time of DNA through the pore. By control of pore size, length, and shape, we capture the major functional behaviors of protein pores in our solid-state nanopore system.'

South Australia is the centre of the Australian distribution of Sardinops sagax, whereas southern Queensland is the northeastern edge of its local range. In South Australia, eggs were collected during all months and the peak in abundance coincided with the upwelling period in summer–autumn (January–April). In contrast, eggs were collected from southern Queensland only during winter–spring (August–November), when water temperatures fell below 23 °C. In South Australia, eggs were found throughout shelf waters, whereas in southern Queensland most eggs were collected from a small area between Noosa Heads and Caloundra. The South Australian fishery was confined mainly to the waters of southern Spencer Gulf and the Coffin Bay Peninsula, and the Queensland fishery was centred on the area of high egg density. Catch rates in the South Australian fishery were high throughout the year, whereas low catch rates were recorded in southern Queensland outside the spawning season. In South Australia, 50% of males and females were mature at approximately 146 and 150 mm FL, respectively. Over 70% of fish in all size classes collected from southern Queensland were sexually mature. Fish less than 145 mm FL comprised over 30% of South Australian catch, but less than 3% of fish taken from southern Queensland. Evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that S. sagax is a widely distributed resident of South Australian waters, but only migrates into southern Queensland during winter–spring to spawn.

South Australia is the centre of the Australian distribution of Sardinops sagax, whereas southern Queensland is the northeastern edge of its local range. In South Australia, eggs were collected during all months and the peak in abundance coincided with the upwelling period in summer–autumn (January–April). In contrast, eggs were collected from southern Queensland only during winter–spring (August–November), when water temperatures fell below 23 °C. In South Australia, eggs were found throughout shelf waters, whereas in southern Queensland most eggs were collected from a small area between Noosa Heads and Caloundra. The South Australian fishery was confined mainly to the waters of southern Spencer Gulf and the Coffin Bay Peninsula, and the Queensland fishery was centred on the area of high egg density. Catch rates in the South Australian fishery were high throughout the year, whereas low catch rates were recorded in southern Queensland outside the spawning season. In South Australia, 50% of males and females were mature at approximately 146 and 150 mm FL, respectively. Over 70% of fish in all size classes collected from southern Queensland were sexually mature. Fish less than 145 mm FL comprised over 30% of South Australian catch, but less than 3% of fish taken from southern Queensland. Evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that S. sagax is a widely distributed resident of South Australian waters, but only migrates into southern Queensland during winter–spring to spawn.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic cytokine, and various inhibitory agents, including specific antibodies, have been developed to block VEGF-stimulated angiogenesis. We developed HuMV833, a humanized version of a mouse monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody (MV833) that has antitumor activity against a number of human tumor xenografts, and investigated the distribution and biologic effects of HuMV833 in patients in a phase I trial. Methods: Twenty patients with progressive solid tumors were treated with various doses of HuMV833 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg). Positron emission tomography with 124I-HuMV833 was used to measure the antibody distribution in and clearance from tissues. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the vascular permeability surface area product with a first-pass pharmacokinetic model (Kfp) to determine tumor vascular permeability. Results: The antibody was generally well tolerated, although the incremental dose, phase I study design, and pharmacodynamic end-points could not identify the optimum biologically active dose. Antibody distribution and clearance were markedly heterogeneous between and within patients and between and within individual tumor. HuMV833 distribution to normal tissues also varied among patients, but the antibody was cleared from these tissues in a homogeneous fashion. Permeability was strongly heterogeneous between and within patients and between and within individual tumors. All tumors showed a reduction in kfp 48 hours after the first treatment (median = 44%, range = 4%-91%). Conclusions: Because of the heterogeneity in tumor biology with respect to anti-body uptake and clearance, we suggest that either intrapatient dose escalation approaches or larger, more precisely defined patient cohorts would be preferable to conventional strategies in the design of phase I studies with anitiangiogenic compounds like HuMV833.

South Australia is the centre of the Australian distribution of Sardinops sagax, whereas southern Queensland is the northeastern edge of its local range. In South Australia, eggs were collected during all months and the peak in abundance coincided with the upwelling period in summer–autumn (January–April). In contrast, eggs were collected from southern Queensland only during winter–spring (August–November), when water temperatures fell below 23 °C. In South Australia, eggs were found throughout shelf waters, whereas in southern Queensland most eggs were collected from a small area between Noosa Heads and Caloundra. The South Australian fishery was confined mainly to the waters of southern Spencer Gulf and the Coffin Bay Peninsula, and the Queensland fishery was centred on the area of high egg density. Catch rates in the South Australian fishery were high throughout the year, whereas low catch rates were recorded in southern Queensland outside the spawning season. In South Australia, 50% of males and females were mature at approximately 146 and 150 mm FL, respectively. Over 70% of fish in all size classes collected from southern Queensland were sexually mature. Fish less than 145 mm FL comprised over 30% of South Australian catch, but less than 3% of fish taken from southern Queensland. Evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that S. sagax is a widely distributed resident of South Australian waters, but only migrates into southern Queensland during winter–spring to spawn.

The pilchard fisheries of Australia expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s and the need for biological information to facilitate ecologically sustainable development of the fisheries led to the initiation of projects funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The aims of the projects described for southern Queensland were: to examine the species composition of purse-seine catches; to describe the size structure of the species caught by purse-seining and determine the age-structure of the pilchard population; to identify the location and timing of clupeoid spawning; to estimate the spawning biomass of pilchards using the Daily Egg Production Method; to examine the potential impacts of a purse-seine fishery on populations of bait fish and on other stakeholders; to develop and assess methods for preventing the encirclement and mortality of dolphins in purse-seine nets and to examine the potential yield of a purse-seine fishery for pilchards.

The pilchard fisheries of Australia expanded rapidly during the 1980s and 1990s and the need for biological information to facilitate ecologically sustainable development of the fisheries led to the initiation of projects funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The aims of the projects described for southern Queensland were: to examine the species composition of purse-seine catches; to describe the size structure of the species caught by purse-seining and determine the age-structure of the pilchard population; to identify the location and timing of clupeoid spawning; to estimate the spawning biomass of pilchards using the Daily Egg Production Method; to examine the potential impacts of a purse-seine fishery on populations of bait fish and on other stakeholders; to develop and assess methods for preventing the encirclement and mortality of dolphins in purse-seine nets and to examine the potential yield of a purse-seine fishery for pilchards.

The 1999 State of the City report for the City of Hilliard. It summarizes the finances and administrative activities for the major city departments including Finance, Service Department, Clerk of Courts, Public Safety, Law Department, City Clerk, and Recreation and Parks.